Stabbing at Mike’s Side Pocket, “no current danger to the public”

A stabbing at Mike’s Side Pocket has left part of Haywood Road closed down as police investigate. The Asheville Police Department claims it’s too early to release details, but that “there’s no current danger to the public.” While an observer on the scene says at least one person is dead, and a source says that another died in the emergency room, these are not yet confirmed. (Photo by Bill Rhodes)

Two months later, District Attorney still won’t release evidence room records

More than two months ago, Xpress requested a copy of the audit of the Asheville Police Department’s evidence room from District Attorney Ron Moore. We have received no reply. According to attorneys from the North Carolina Press Association, the audit should be public record, and Moore’s behavior violates the state’s open records law.

Practice what you peddle

Will the Asheville Police Department lead by example of the social order they've been tasked to uphold and not ride their bikes on sidewalks? As they pass, I'm forced to walk in the street, unprotected and unrepresented. — Nathanael Roney Asheville The writer is the senior graphic designer at Mountain Xpress

District Attorney Ron Moore keeping evidence room audit results under wraps

The audit of the Asheville Police Department evidence room was completed Jan. 9, but don’t expect the details to go public soon. While Buncombe County District Attorney Ron Moore has told some media that the audit showed that around 200 drug parcels might be missing, the Buncombe County District Attorney’s keeping the results secret, even from city government.

Emails shine light on city’s reaction to Occupy Asheville

Xpress has obtained 270 emails from city of Asheville staff concerning Occupy Asheville. The emails reveal law enforcement considering their approach to (and surveillance of) the protests as well as city staff and Occupy representatives debating freedom of assembly, among other things. These emails are available to the public in a searchable database.
photo by Bill Rhodes

Asheville city ordinance doesn’t prohibit handing out political fliers

Earlier this month, the Asheville Police Department arrested Helen Roberts for passing out fliers as part of Occupy Asheville, claiming it violated a city ordinance. The charges against Roberts have since been dropped, and City Attorney Bob Oast tells Xpress that the ordinance she was arrested under only deals with commercial activity — not handing out political fliers in public spaces.

Occupy Asheville protester arrested for passing out fliers

Under a city ordinance banning advertisement “by the distribution of samples or printed matter within the city,” the Asheville Police Department arrested Helen Roberts,an Occupy Asheville participant for distributing fliers at a Nov. 2 rally. Roberts says the fliers she distributed were pie charts endorsing the protest’s positions, and that she was not soliciting donations.

APD employee, city social media specialist suspended after Facebook comments

The city of Asheville has placed Lynn Fraser, a forensic technician employed by the Asheville Police Department, and Melissa Williams, the city’s social media specialist, on “non disciplinary paid investigative suspension.” On Facebook, Fraser called Occupy Asheville protesters emerged yesterday, and Williams added a “LMAO” (“laughing my ass off”) comment.

APD Chief: department takes employee’s Facebook comments on Occupy Asheville “very seriously”

Asheville Police Department Interim Chief Wade Wood has released a statement saying that his department takes Facebook comments made by Lynn Fraser, a forensic technician employed by the APD, “very seriously.” Fraser called Occupy Asheville protesters “dirtasses” and said they needed “a hug … around the neck… with a rope.” Melissa Williams, the city’s public information and social media specialist, who commented on Fraser’s status, has offered her apologies.